Rising artist Harkling makes a powerful entrance into the music world with her debut single, ‘Alive’. This atmospheric track blends ethereal pop and downtempo electronics, drawing listeners into an immersive exploration of life’s emotional complexities. Based in Northumberland, Harkling has built a reputation for creating music that balances dark, experimental elements with a sound that feels both intimate and otherworldly. With ‘Alive’, she captures this balance perfectly, offering a hauntingly beautiful introduction to her artistry.
Harkling’s background in classical music and free improvisation shapes her ability to craft soundscapes that transcend mere listening. Her music feels like an experience, drawing on nature, folklore, and personal stories to weave a deeply immersive atmosphere. In ‘Alive’, the combination of these elements creates a hypnotic melody that is at once delicate and powerful, reflecting the artist’s deep connection to unseen forces that move beneath the surface of everyday life. The track’s ethereal quality feels ritualistic, almost as if the music itself is an offering to something larger.
The inspiration for ‘Alive’ came during a transformative period when Harkling lived in Arctic Norway. The stark beauty and isolation of the Arctic landscape—long, dark nights and expansive, frozen vistas—mirror the emotional journey she was undergoing at the time. This sense of isolation and introspection is captured in the music, with the track exploring the tension between light and dark, hope and despair. The result is a haunting beauty that is both unsettling and comforting, offering listeners a glimpse into the raw emotional challenges Harkling faced in those frozen landscapes.
With its understated yet rich production, ‘Alive’ lets Harkling’s ethereal vocals shine, floating over layered soundscapes that convey both vulnerability and strength. The track’s 90 BPM rhythm adds an earthy, grounding element while still allowing the music to feel expansive and spacious. As the song unfolds, it serves as a reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is always a spark of light within us, waiting to ignite. ‘Alive’ is a deeply personal and universally resonant debut that sets a high standard for what’s to come in Harkling’s promising career.
